Condo project proposed for famed Valhalla in Sausalito

The Valhalla building along the Sausalito waterfront — formerly owned by famous madam Sally Stanford — would be turned into a seven-unit residential condominium under a new plan submitted to the city.

The condo proposal comes after a controversial plan to transform the building into a 20-room boutique hotel was pulled earlier this year. That plan was met with community resistance when it was announced last year with someone scrawling threatening graffiti on the property: "No Development That Blocks Views. If You Build Up We Will Burn It Down!!!!"

The building at 201 Bridgeway has sat empty for the past six years after the last tenant, the Indian restaurant Gaylord's, closed. In other incarnations it was the Chart House restaurant.

Now a condo plan has come forward and this week the City Council gave approval for an environmental review of the project.

"We will be putting this out for public review," said Jeremy Graves, Sausalito's community development director, who added views will be one of the points that will be looked at.

"The public will weigh in on what's being studied," Rex said. "There will be plenty of opportunities to address neighborhood concerns."

While built in 1893, the building's real fame began in 1948 when Stanford, the madam who built her business in San Francisco, bought what was then called the Walhalla and changed the name to Valhalla. She turned the Valhalla into a successful restaurant, bar and dance hall, decorating it with Victorian furniture, Tiffany lamps, and art nouveau pieces.

Stanford had quite a life. After working as a bootlegger during Prohibition, she opened the first of a dozen brothels in San Francisco, and was arrested 17 times even though her customers were police and politicians.

After her arrival in Sausalito, Stanford ran for the City Council five times before being elected in 1972 and serving until 1980. She was also mayor from 1976 to 1977.

The outspoken Stanford, named vice mayor for life in 1980, wore her hair in a huge rolled bun and favored cigarettes in long holders. She championed property rights, tourism, animals and philanthropy. Her autobiography, "The Lady of the House," became a movie.